Relating to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer

the explanation’s substance by the members of the general assembly. This bill relates to background investigations for certification or recertification as a law enforcement officer. The bill provides that prior to enrollment in a certifying training program, all law enforcement officers shall be of good moral character as determined through a thorough background investigation and shall not have been convicted of any felony or a crime or adjudication involving moral turpitude. The bill defines “moral turpitude” as an act of baseness, vileness, or depravity in the private and social duties that a person owes to another person or to society in general, and includes conduct that is contrary to justice, honesty, or good morals. The bill provides that a crime or adjudication involving moral turpitude includes but is not limited to any of the following: offenses of domestic violence; an adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would constitute a felony if committed by an adult; any sex crime or crime listed in Code chapter 709 (sexual abuse); any crime committed as an adult that resulted in being listed on the sex offender registry; an adjudication of delinquency based on conduct that would constitute a crime if committed by an adult that resulted in being listed on the sex offender registry; or any crime involving child abuse. The bill provides that law enforcement officers seeking recertification shall be subject to the same background investigation.